China is quickly registering it’s footprint in the Middle East by helping countries in the region in their weaponisation program, having gradually built strong working affiliations in the region, according to Geopolitica.
The U.S. are thus, worried over the turn of events, as their attempts to restrain the nuclear goals of Iran may become thwarted as China is expected to speed up its nuclear deployment plans because of Saudi Arabia’s missile program, the report notes.
Satellite images captured Saudi Arabian sites “previously constructed with Chinese assistance” where the missiles were being built. Satellite photos taken by Planet, a commercial imaging company, between October 26 and November 9 last year, show that a burn operation occured at a facility near Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia, according to Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
The Saudi ballistic missile program has heightened concerns among members of US Congress over a “potential arms race in the Middle East”.
However, two reasons are advanced for Saudi’s ballistic missile program. First, though Saudi is among the biggest buyers of American arms, it is barred from purchasing ballistic missiles from the US based on regulations set forth by the 1987 Missile Technology Control Regime, according to Geopolitica.
Second, with the US gradually withdrawing itself, politically and physically, from the Middle East arena, China quickly entered the picture, as if to fill the gap and engineered a working relationship with Saudi on the missile program.
The report further highlights that, since former President Barack Obama and former President Donald Trump introduced US policy to disengage from the Middle East, China’s influence in the region has been growing, also in tandem with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to Dr Fabri. Currently, China holds the biggest share of crude imports from Saudi Arabia, around 72% of crude oil imported.
Belt Road Initiative, a Factor of Growth in China’s Influence
Furthermore, China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with Algeria, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, as well as strategic partnerships with Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Turkey all woven into the Belt and Road Initiative.
Forging ahead with its BRI, Beijing seeks to aggressively put China at the centre of global trade and at the same time place the Digital Silk Road in the leading position of technological innovation, registering digital development in the region.
Also, telecommunication companies in Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have all formed partnerships with Huawei to build 5G netowrks, according to Geopolitica.
Following these developments, the US is beginning to realize that Chinese influence is growing in the region and that, along with its permanent seat on the UN Security Council, ensures that its global influence will only increase over time.
According to Geopolitica, this is possibly the reason why Gulf Cooperation States (GCS) view China as an important source of political support particularly in times when they are embarking on diversification programmes and selective economic reforms while resisting Western Pressure on issues pertaining to human rights and democratization.
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